Booklist: Fairy Tales Retold

Thanks to morganlight for prompting me to create this list, which is based on one of my favorite topics: fairy tales retold.

For ages 8 and upA Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court by Mark Twain (Camelot)Just Ella by Margaret Peterson Haddix (Cinderella without the fantasy elements) - Just Ella has two companion novels: Palace of Mirrors and Palace of LiesElla Enchanted by Gail Carson Levine (The curse of a fairy godmother's gift)Fairest by Gail Carson Levine (Snow White)Ever by Gail Carson LevineThe Princess Tales series by Gail Carson Levine - The Fairy's Mistake (Toads and Diamonds)- The Princess Test (The Princess and the Pea)- Princess Sonora and the Long Sleep (Sleeping Beauty)- Cinderellis and the Glass Hill (The Princess on the Glass Hill)- For Biddle's Sake (Puddocky)- The Fairy's Return (The Golden Goose)Twice Upon a Time series by Wendy Mass- Rapunzel: The One With All the Hair- Sleeping Beauty: The One Who Took the Really Long Nap- Beauty and the Beast: The Only One Who Didn't Run AwayWhatever After series by Sarah Mlynowski- #1: Fairest of All (Snow White) - #2: If the Shoe Fits (Cinderella)- #3: Sink or Swim (The Little Mermaid)- #4: Dream On (Sleeping Beauty)- #5: Bad Hair Day (Rapunzel)- #6: Cold as Ice (The Snow Queen)Grimmtastic Girls series by Joan Holub and Suzanne Williams- #1: Cinderella Stays Late- #2: Red Riding Hood Gets Lost - #3: Snow White Lucks Out- #4: Rapunzel Cuts LooseThe Legend of Holly Claus by Brittney Ryan (Santa Claus)

For ages 10 and upBreadcrumbs by Anne Ursu, illustrated by Erin McGuire (The Snow Queen and other Hans Christian Andersen stories)East by Edith Pattou (East of the Sun, West of the Moon)Spindle's End by Robin McKinley (Sleeping Beauty)Quicksilver by Stephanie Spinner (Hermes)Quiver by Stephanie Spinner (Atalanta)Into the Wild by Sarah Beth Durst (Rapunzel, Puss-in-Boots, and more)- Sequel: Out of the Wild by Sarah Beth DurstWhy I Let My Hair Grow Out by Maryrose Wood (Irish myths, Twelve Dancing Princesses, and more)- Sequel: How I Found the Perfect Dress by Maryrose WoodGoose Chase by Patricia Kindl (Goose Girl)Goose Girl by Shannon HaleThe Princess Academy by Shannon Hale (The concept of princesses in general)Book of a Thousand Days by Shannon Hale (Maid Maleen)I have yet to read Enna Burning or River Secrets by Shannon Hale. Please don't spoil them for me!

Published for adults - also recommended for older teensInnocence by Jane Mendelsohn (Wicked Stepmother and the Last Girl Theory - one of my favorite books) Straight on 'til Morning by Christopher Golden (Peter Pan - set as a coming-of-age story in 1981 - jaw-dropping!)The Ferryman by Christopher Golden (Charon - one of Golden's best)The Veil sequence by Christopher Golden (A multitude of myths - Read the books in order: The Myth Hunters, The Borderkind, and The Lost Ones)Anansi Boys by Neil Gaiman (African lore)American Gods by Neil Gaiman (A multitude of myths)Instructions by Neil Gaiman (Short story)Confessions of an Ugly Stepsister by Gregory Maguire (Cinderella)

Additional fairy tale titles:Fairy Tales from the Brothers Grimm by Philip PullmanWicked by Gregory Maguire and so forth (The Wizard of Oz)Mira, Mirror by Mette Ivie Harrison (Snow White)Tales From the Brothers Grimm and the Sisters Weird by Vivian Vande Velde (Various)The Spoon in the Bathroom Wall by Tony Johnston (Camelot)Diary of a Fairy Godmother by Esme Raji Codell (Fairy godmothers in general)Don't Expect Magic by Kathy McCullough (Fairy godmothers a la otherwise normal humans that grant wishes)

Last but not least, my favorite stories that (re)define the book-within-a-book format. Although they are not strictly fairy tales, those who do love well-done fantasy stories will love these. I know that I do. You should read these books right now.

The NeverEnding Story by Michael Ende (The power of imagination)Sophie's World by Jostein Gaarder (A philosophy textbook wrapped in a novel)Poison by Chris Wooding (I won't say anything more so I won't give anything away)

Comments

Yay! More to add to my reading list. :) I'm not sure if you read the genres, but if you ever have time I'd love a rec list for adult science fiction and/or fantasy. Oooh, or books with cats. I read a fantasy novel about a cat revolution that was a lot better than I'm making it sound right now. I wish I could remember the name... I'll have to check my book boxes or shelves. Hmm.

I can't read Warriors because I know they don't all live, and I can't deal with that. Horrible murders and serial killers on CSI, Without a Trace, SVU? in books by Christopher Golden? SURE! A cute little animal even getting a infected claw? TEARS.

It seems to be out of print, for the most part. After years of searching, I was able to track it down via the public library earlier this year. Try your library - and used bookstores as well - and enjoy!